E676 Beef-on-Dairy Premiums Rose in Dollars and Fell to 29%–38%, Michigan State Found

Pennsylvania No. 1 beef-cross bulls brought $341 over dairy bulls in 2025, but as a share of the dairy calf's value, the premium plummeted to 38%.

A bigger check doesn't automatically equal a better margin. We analyze new 67-month auction data from Michigan State University showing that while beef-cross dollar premiums climbed steadily since 2020, their percentage advantage fell sharply. The Bullvine Podcast breaks down what this shrinking ratio means for your semen budget and why betting on past percentages will overstate your relative edge.

• Why Kentucky auction data looks like a collapse until you check the math

• How a $50 incremental cost per calf eats into your overall herd profit

• The replacement requirements of overusing terminal beef semen

• Four precise questions you must ask your calf buyer before your next order

• How to stress-test your current breeding strategy against 2020 prices

Making breeding decisions based on a 91 percent premium from 2020 drastically overstates your margin today. Our 70-calf scenario proves that a program relying on 2025 dollar premiums is entirely carried by record-high base prices, not just the crossbred genetic advantage. If the cattle cycle shifts, high incremental costs for beef semen and conception variables will aggressively penalize your bottom line.

Full article and sources: https://www.thebullvine.com/beef-on-dairy/beef-on-dairy-premiums-dollars-percent/ Subscribe for straight-talking dairy analysis. Share this with a producer who needs it.